My Children Ignored Me For Years — Until They Needed $200,000
Part 2
I invited them to dinner at my new place so we could talk.
The replies came back immediately.
Tyler and Heather both quickly confirmed they would be there.
Of course they did.
I was finally giving them the access they wanted.
I spent Friday afternoon at the bank.
I made several large financial transfers.
I signed heavy stacks of official paperwork.
I sat directly across from my lawyer, Craig Smith.
He carefully asked if I was absolutely sure about my decision.
I told him I had never been more certain.
Saturday arrived with a bright, clear sky.
I prepared a very simple roast chicken dinner.
I wasn’t cooking to desperately impress anyone anymore.
The doorbell rang at exactly seven in the evening.
They were remarkably punctual when they wanted a massive handout.
I calmly opened the front door.
Tyler confidently walked in first.
Amber followed closely right behind him.
Heather arrived alone.
Her husband Paul didn’t bother showing up.
Tyler practically rehearsed his greeting.
He hugged me tightly and aggressively complimented the expensive apartment.
Amber kissed my cheek.
She left a perfectly pink lipstick mark that I had to wipe off later.
They immediately moved into my living room.
They admired the sweeping city views.
They loudly calculated how incredibly expensive my new lifestyle must be.
We sat down at the dining table.
The opening conversation was incredibly stiff and totally forced.
They talked aimlessly about the highway traffic.
I simply ate my chicken in total silence.
I watched them exchange deeply impatient glances.
They were just waiting for the perfect moment to aggressively demand my cash.
Tyler eventually broke the tense silence.
He smoothly brought up the conversation we had months ago about the luxury spa.
Amber immediately leaned forward with her most practiced professional smile.
She claimed she had the entire business plan completely ready.
She just needed the initial capital from my supposed new wealth.
Heather quickly interrupted them.
She said she desperately needed thirty thousand dollars for her dream house.
They all stared at me intently.
They were waiting exactly like they had always waited.
As if I were nothing but a convenient vending machine for their problems.
I slowly set my fork down on my plate.
I carefully wiped my mouth with my linen napkin.
I took a very long, deep breath.
I asked them if they had bothered to call me once in the last three months just to ask how I was.
The entire dining room went utterly silent.
I asked if anyone cared if I missed my old house.
If anyone wondered if I felt lonely in a brand new city.
Tyler shifted uncomfortably.
He claimed they had simply been too busy to reach out.
I reminded him I had been deeply busy being his mother for twenty-six years.
But it was never an excuse to completely forget he existed.
I reminded them they completely ignored my promotion.
They totally ignored my huge move across the country.
They ignored my very existence until Diane posted that single photo online.
Until they mistakenly thought I was overflowing with disposable cash.
They both furiously protested.
Heather weakly claimed they had always planned to visit me.
I asked her exactly when she had planned that visit before seeing my new apartment.
No one answered.
Amber tried to smooth things over.
She softly said that family always supports each other in tough times.
I agreed with her completely.
I told her family supports each other all the time, not just when they want a handout.
I stood up from the dining table.
I slowly walked out to the balcony.
They all followed me with their eyes.
I looked at my ungrateful children.
What do you think I showed them when my lawyer stepped out of the back room?
